River of Stars by Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay appeals to fans of Under Heaven by setting his newest novel, River of Stars, some 400 years later — and making the consequences of actions in the earlier book heartbreakingly evident. As River of Stars begins, it becomes clear that Ren Daiyan is no ordinary man: Marked for glory from an early age, he believes he is born to fight and regain control of the kingdom of Kitai. Meanwhile, Lin Shan has been taught things women never are — and has captivated an emperor in her quest to save her father from dangerous scrutiny. Together will they change the course of history?

River of Stars, Guy Gavriel Kay, $32. Available at Indigo.ca and Amazon.ca.